Growers Abroad

A group of Midwest corn growers (from Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska) is on a two week “study tour” in Brazil and Argentina. Among the things learned:

With its climate, Brazil can actually grow two crops a year—which typically are soybeans (soja) and corn (milho). However, they are working to develop a triple-cropping system in which they plant grass with the corn. Once the corn is harvested, cattle are turned out on the grass as pasture. Naturally, those of us who fight grasses and weeds in cornfields wondered about the effect of the grasses on corn yields, but the value of the grass in terms of cattle production apparently overcomes the yield drag on the corn.

The trip ends Jan. 25, and you can enjoy the obeservations on their blog, here.